I hate knowing that I will have to hear Saturday night on Saturdays although I did attend a Furthur show where they did not play Saturday night on Saturday night. Fingers crossed on that one. I don't mind shake or stephen as long as they play them well, loud, and with an up-tempo. Rockin' is what i mean

Tonite going with my wife, she has been humoring me for 25 years with these shows; my daughter, in from college for thanksgiving, first show ever; my son, 15th birthday today, his second show (Keyspan summer his first). MSG on a saturday night, the band could play Easy Answers and it will be special night for me. Son loves Scarlet>Fire but alas it was done last night. See you all there!!!!

I've been waiting for this gig since I was blown away in July at their Gathering of the Vibes show. This will be my 3rd time around with Furthur....I know they will not disappoint no matter what they play. But.....here's a thought.....it's MSG....Branford Marsalis?....eyes?? I think we are boing to get a shakedown or dancin' opener.....should get nutty after that. Also hoping for a Dark Star...wharf rat.....Am I asking too much?

I really don't want a Dylan cameo. It's like those Garcia band shows in '89 that Bobby opened. He joins JGB onstage for.....Masterpiece. Ugh. I'm there for the Garcia band and I have to sit through another crappy version of Masterpiece. That could have been a 'Don't Let Go.' i just want a Furthur show, kicked up a notch for The NYC

Phil Loves NYC and We LOVE Phil For tonight and Sunday... think '69 to early '70's era expect some real old school vintage jammy tunes 'Star Dew Stephen 11 Other One Crptical Terrapin Suite Viola New Potato

Furthur Madison Square Garden, NY, NY 11/20/2010 Set I Jam> Help on the Way> Slipknot!> Shakedown Street> Jack Straw El Paso Bobby going to redeem himself tonight or there is a collective gasp occurring right now

Why, does "saint/11" bother you? I don't care about how many Phil has played in the last 10 years. He can play as many as he likes and I hope he plays many more! It's like complaining that they play DS too often now!

It was packed. I had a fucking blast. High as a kite and feeling it in the Garden. Yeah Bobby flubbed it on El Paso and took the wind out of the Wharf Rat sails, but the second set was a blast. Ok, well it is a long blur, but I fucking loved it. Fun fun fun fun times.

another phenomenal ny show.. a chopper 5 star special.. the help slip skakedown was ,ind blowing.. all furthur jack straws are phenomenal bobby got thriugh the first half of el paso fine but lost it in the second half of the song..Not quite the Nokia disaster.. terrapin was tremendous as they have been recently.. lots of fun..if you are going tomorrow, and drink $5 water, bring your own caps to avoid spillage..st. stephen w long jam into 11 was sweet,,just a great great night..the death don't have no mercy (good call Jeanette aka Betty) was soooo hit, Now a Jet victory and another great show tomorrow,,

Shout out to all who attended the Anti Bobby Defamation League Meeting tonite in Section 210.

Special thanks to Ron, Joy and Donnie for help spreading the word. The turn out was amazing. Thanks. Special Shout out to the guy sitting on the section above us who was at the show with his kids.

See everyone tomorrow at halftime in Section 310. Special purpose of meeting is so nominate committee chairperson with respect to the committee to spread the word that Phil makes as many errors as Phil and he is doing damm well for a guy approacing 70.

Freakin' unbelievable show. They could have ended after the first set and it would have been the best Furthur show I had yet seen (out of 8). We really didn't think there was any way they could do a second set that wouldn't lessen the impact of that first set. But they did.

Second set was simply a vicious Phil attack. He dominated proceedings... crunchy loud, lacing the bombs. Other One was particularly brutal but it wasn't alone. The Dark Star, Stephen, Eleven jams all sparkled with intensity.

John was awesome (the DDHNM solos!!), Bobby's "dirty" tone was nasty, and vocals were good again.

It's hard to imagine them ever being better than they were last night. We can only hope that they approach that level.

I was first row center, on the railing (thanks to GDTSToo). Wish they had kept the poachers out of there; it wss way crowded in first row; ushers don't seem to give a damn, really. Gotta find something to complain about I guess, since there really wasn't much to complain about regarding the music. Do take that arrow away after Wharf Rat... they came to a complete stop before the piano solo. Even Two Djinn was incredible last night; Phil was SO into it. WOW.

Hey... how do you post a picture. I have a few I took with my camera phone that would go nicely in this thread, but I can't seem to upload the photos.

Anyway.. I must have been two rows behind BZL - since I was 3rd row... and I agree. After the first set I could have walked out and been totally satisfied. I said to my friend, and the guy in front of me (nice guy who had to keep borrowing my ticket stub to get back to the seat - not his seat but it didnt' seem anyone else was sitting there??), I don't know how they can top the first set... but they did.

Best Dead related show I have seen since Jerry's passing (that includes many Phil and Friends and Ratdog shows). This was my first Furthur show. I wouldn't say it was better than any Dead show I had ever saw (saw the Dead first in 1976)... but came close to an energy surpassing anything Dead or otherwise (at least from where I was sitting).

And usually I have been down on Bobby of late (with the Dead in 2009 - and Ratdog earlier) for being very subdued in his presentation of the material... but he was on FIRE with his rendition of Death Don't Have No Mercy... almost the Bobby of old with out the crazy off the hook shrieking. :-)

so killer i really dont see the point in going tonight....again...anybody who rips john needs to listen to reading and this show and then email me...i have nothing to say...except plain and simple best 1st set ever...and every bit as good as second night radio city...one for the ages...this show will be talked about for a long time....theres no reviews because everybody is probably still partying...and yes he did do his usual fumble with el trasho...but so what....at least he didnt give up and we all eventually got to the end of it and the crowd gave him a huge cheer....the only other thing im going to say is that i gave a review of reading in which i said wharf rat was the best i had ever seen since 1979 and obviously bob and phil and jill all agreed with me because they let john play it twice this week and he delivered...he was totoally blown away by our sheer numbers last night and came through...and to the person who asked...yes it was basically full capacity...place went crazy during inpiration with everyone yelling terrapin when asked to do so....and yes bob sand inspiration and death dont

What an amazing show. Easily the best Furthur ever and as good a Post Jerry show as I've ever seen ....walking out I was the one saying Best Show Ever though!!!!!

The Garden was packed and the crowd was delerious. Don't knitpick or bash Bobby....they all were fantastic...John was LOUD and CLEAR.. Russo pounded Terrapin like he owned the song...Jeff is amazing and Phil is GOD....THIS WAS THE BOMB

I soooooo wish was going Sunday!! I will be streaming if kindness flows!!!!!!

the only bad part ....its coming back to me slowly...the only bad part which still puzzles me is that john did not take a guitar solo let alone even a note during jack straw...it was jeffs piano solo into jack straw from wichita...very odd...

well, that was a pretty epic show people... they came out of the gates with intensity and sense of purpose. Help > slip > shakedown was totally off the hook. just madness for a show opener. awesome jack straw - chimenti piano solo for the 2nd solo was amazing. too bad about el paso but i loved the song selection, and wharf rat afterward was just shredded. the vox during the gospel part > "i'll get up and fly away" were incredibly moving, then deepdeepdeep and growling. a monstrous manifestation of the Rat that was as good as i've ever seen any incarnation of this band do. 2jinn is a tough call that deep into the set but i told myself after the wharf rat that i will never ask anything again from this band after what i had just heard - they've earned the right never to hit an in-tune note again, in my book... but 'analytically' the energy went down despite some great jamming... they turned it around big time with the terrapin suite closer, solidly played to say the least. Just an epic, searching first set...

"Mountains" 2set opener was another tough call for the amped up NYC crowd but it really is a sweet tune with great outtro vox and jam, and then the 'Star crashed and it was pretty much lights out from then on. again, the mellower pace even of this classic wasn't necessarily in full synch with the NYC madhouse, but the jamming was exquisite and very subtle, for olde-school appreciators of this tune I think it was a pretty strong, very open version.. which rumbled into TOO with the most aggressive, growling philBomb that set the tone for the rest of the set -- aggro, purposeful, ROCKING, and just epic. Stephen just soared, Eleven was sweet... and Death Don't was so moving. Was a bit worried that Bobby wouldn't be able to pull it off after some difficulties with solo vox earlier, but he incarnated Rev Gary Davis and delivered a stunning performance - the screaming at the end was truly haunting and in his -- and the old bluesmen's -- great tradition. The closing sanglewich of end Slipknot > Franklin's was appropriate for this creative, thoughtful band and it was no mail-it-in set closer. Big-tyme peaks reached... and jeezlouise even OMSN just shredded with real intensity.

one of the really cool dynamics of this show was how it started so insanely, kind of dropped at end set 1/beginning set 2, then re-emerged with focus and serious intensity for the rest of the show. blew away the sat MSG crowd, and though we all obviously love the smaller venues it was pretty cool to see this band pull off the sellout and deliver the GOODS and then some. as always, just overwhelmed with the fact that this is 2010 and this music is every bit as alive, evolving, ROCKING, and just crackling with life and intensity. the proverbial real-deal.

Gratefulbill, I noticed the same thing for solo 2 in JS (John had a tasty one in the first solo, actually). John was getting ready to shred and they dropped back into the chorus... think it was 'cause jeff had shredded the solo so massively they didn't want to disrespect and layer the guitar over that. admittedly a questionable call, but i was OK with it given how sick jeff's solo was... subjectively i wondered if it got john even more fired up for Rat, which he killed...

I was there last night. Killer show. How do they top that? Really looking forward to tonight's. Tour closer. I'm wondering if there's a kind soul in NYC who can hook up a Canadian brother with a couple of tabs for tonight to make the show a little extra special. If anyone can help out, email me jackstraw1993@gmail.com.

First of all, I want to take back all the bad things I have said about this band.

They are great. J.K., I don't really care anymore the reason you're playing like that, it's just really good.

Last night was a scorcher. The NYC vibe was there and helping the band sound better. We were singing so loud Bob had to follow us which made it hard for him to Shatnerize too much. He realized he couldn't beat us so he joined. What fun.

here's the skinny my phat friendz!! the grateful dead & furthur are both championship teams!!the grateful dead were like bill russell, dominating with multiple rings & who came along a generation later? yes furthur is like micheal jordon a burning desire to win with a will to match! so both teams have multiple rings & u can compare & contrast till yer blue in the face..... so i say enjoy the ride cuzz we all know this is the farewell tour for all intent & purposes & a prayer furthur goes on for many more years!! "you ain't got time to call your soul a critic no....wake up discover"...on 2 another magical nite @the world's most famous arena....the crowd ovation/roar is so full of love ,reverence & respect for the band hearing it fills my heart with joy & the music takes me furthur into my heart & soul!! so lucky we r even hearing & seeing this music live again played at such a championship level!! peace amore

Reading all these glowing reviews I have new respect for how different honest assessments can be. Because I (and the group I was with) had a markedly different opinion of last night's show, especially with regard to the second set. While I am not a dark star fanatic, I appreciate it's free form, spacey, journey and the way it encapsulates one of the most original aspects of the Grateful Dead. But this is a song where placement matters. In order to best enjoy Dark Star, I need to be on my feet, dancing, and filled with adrenaline, at which point the gears of the plane change and you start to float without programmed direction.

Well playing Dark Star as the second song of a set, following the relatively low energy Mountain song, makes about as much sense as playing it as the first song at a wedding. I thought it was in the wrong place, and the set wrong mood. I didn't even get up for TOO though I revived at St. Steven. And while the rest of the setlist were classic songs, the fact that they played Dark Star, the Other One, Death Don't Have No Mercy, and the Eleven (despite being my favorite song) just as they had the last time they played New York at Nokia did take a bit away from the experience for me.

Have really enjoyed listening to concerts from the tour on the archive, and wonder if my view will change when I "relisten" but that's my $0.02 on last night.

>>In order to best enjoy Dark Star, I need to be on my feet, dancing, and filled with adrenaline, at which point the gears of the plane change and you start to float without programmed direction.

Then that's the limit of how far you can go with this music. The more "in order to"s and "I need to"s you attach to the experience, the more you will be let down. Go with the flow and it will all work out. Sorry you had bum time when most other people were loving it.

NYC/MSG: "You Win Again" Good luck tonight on getting something better than this! My boys Italian Stallion and Ole' are in the house tonight second row for their first show each - not a bad time to check em out, huh? -Doc

Without a doubt the best Furthur show Ive ever seen!! Especially that first set, simply AWESOME!! If I have one complaint, it would be the Mtn. song that Phil opened the 2nd set with. That was painful to listen to.

ive been too many Garden shows by the GD and TOO etc...this was top 3 for sure....so much energy....really tight playing, i loved the lights too, and i hardly notice them ever....great crowd, everyone smoking up a storm...but the music, really on...JK and Phil locked in, no slow pace like the Rat...Russo like a madman, great playing....higtlights for me were Jack Straw, swells of energy during that,and my wifes name is Shannon so i love that too.....the Wharf and Terrapin Suite were magestic, with the crowd screaming TERRAPIN, unreal.....sweet Dark Star, really jazzy and changed pace alot, i loved how they played the first verse, then sang it.....stretched it out! huge Phil bomb to open TOO,,,,amazing The Eleven and so on.....hot tub, with margaritas, and bongs at 4:20 to end the night...great night!!!!!!! very time i think theyve lost it they do this too me...i love these guys....

Went to my first Garden show 31 years ago. It's not quite the same, but I had a really great night, the music was tight, the setlist awesome and the crowd was full of energy. Stood near Bill Walton, thankfully in front of him, and we were smiling at each other all night. I must admit that I appreciate Phil much more than I used to, when it was all JG for me. I am glad he is still around and educating me about his mastery.

Funny story: Two girls young enuff to be my daughter were sitting next to me. Bitchin about the show all night. Dark Star comes on, and I say "well you cant still be disappointed." They told me Dark Star sucked and left!!!!!

Incredible that 19th row seats on the Phil side were wasted on such idiots!!!!

this night was fantastic, a first set that had me thinking it was the 2nd set...seriously help slip shakedown jack straw...my entire section was going ape shit..the el paso was bobbys chance to say fuck you to new york for the nokia incident..albeit a much better version he still biffs it..time to retire el paso just like memphis blues after 3 or 4 hideous attempts...didnt think we'd get another wharf rat after the 11/18 reading one but i was glad it came esp first set...jeff got to sum up his talents and solos from the entire tour into one nice journey before two djinn--which is an okay tune ill take it or leave it..and there it is...TERRAPIN to close the first set..it was a really special moment--the entire tour led up to that moment if you know what i mean....a really gratifying experience..this was the longest first set of the tour by at least 15-20 minutes the 2nd set was incredibly solid..although i didnt think they would shorten it due to the longer first set..i thought we were getting some super special MSG treatment (my first MSG shows)..i dig mountain song and i love how much its developed since its beginning..dark star>other one reminded me of the cuthbert show from west coast tour..followed up with a stephen>eleven come on!! DDHNM was great--i do not mind if bobby wants to sing it-sometimes he lets john do it--gotta be in there for the long haul to get it i guess..and finally the franklins to complete that gigantic sandwich..could have done without t he saturday night but hey...woo saturday night...we left extremely happy and ready to cap the tour off the following night